New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-02

Of foremen In the Establishments for whom they
work, have In no wise been overlrawn. The open
doors OF uaIy kitchens seem TO be TO many minds .
very easy solution OF the problem; but my own OK
pcricntc lcals t. believe that the millennium will
dawn tho vexei question can be settled in that
way. Even sensible Marion Harland Is Indignant
because they do not go TO the country homes OF the
West. 10 was In one OF those country homes, on an
Illinois prairie that had my bitterest experience
and there is vast difference in being before or be-
hind the scenes. How many women who are the
pink OF amnLiity before their guests vent all their
yexaton in family life upon their hired help Excuse
my garruousncss, but felt that all the letters were
on side Of the question, and ! await with some
curiosity your solution Of this important question.
Here is my experience in brief If you think it
we'll TO use it,
"Thero are employers who to think they
elevate Themselves in proportion as they make any
other creature sensible Of neriority Of depend
cnce." Never have trIor words been written. ana
hero, in a great lies the secret of the de-
cidcd aversion to domestic service. Put yourself
I'm his place" might well be said 10 those who seem
TO think their own Kitchens "the promised land"
and consider any sympathy wasted on those who
will not enter them. / have been there: know all
about it. Death and financial troubles in my family
left me, fifteen years ago, n homeless and almost
Iennllcss woman. At I was Offered n position
in an Office, but having been fond Of homo duties.
md fully qualified IN do all the work Of household
I went TO large city TO find employment Of that
Kind In a largo boarding house. while looking foi
work. 7 came in contact with drcssmalIers, telegraph
and telephone operators saleswOmen. cOpyists and
mlliners. most OF whom averaged "a per week. out
of which they paid board. washing and clothing
10 nv surprise they all lifted mp their hands in holy
horror that should think domestic service prcfcra-
bic to their work and Immediately was rclecated
to the lowest round the social ladder in that
Enlistment. drc'dcd boariins-ho lifo, and
thought 7 expected 10 do my whole duty, surely
] would meet with kind treatment and find pleasant
home Perhaps unfortunate. and you will say
lit Ia nm exceptional case" but in the four families
7 served. though had enough TO cat and my wagca
paid regularly. 7 would rather have had only
n crust and water With kindness. ] do not believe
any slave tolcd harder than I did from carly morn
ing (often a. n.y. until late ut night. and yet In
one case the lady ~ OF the house in speaking to
mo called me "her mental" Was I disappointed
because l expected too much OF one OF the en-
poyers Il was said "shc treats her dogs Infinitely
better than she trcat> us" When I tell you that
many nights my pillow was wet with bitter tcaIs
because Of sharp, naggng words, you may meet ~
by saying super sensitive anil therefore unified
for such position. ! can assure you know Just
how the people employ ought to be treated, and
o convince you OF the fact, need only say that In
IL the fourteen years bcfor misfortune swept from
me my happy. comfortable home. had tho same
girl in nv Kitchen. When turned the Key 81 my
door for the last time ere IL passed INTO the nahnS oI
strangers she stood by nv side. and with quivenng
lips said "GoOd-Iy." Was sho exceptionally
good cirl7 YES jewel and yet she has had dozens
of places since she left me.
1t is not a Mr.. Hewitt suproscs that we want TO
table with tho family" a. they did in his
childhoods days. for a small amount Of common
sense would show us that I'm many cases meal time
is the only family gathering in many homes. any
certainly they prefer privacy. lt Il this and this
alone: VIC arc human. and therefore want humane
treatment and n kindly interest 20 that we are not
compelled t. feel that all employers care for Is
TO how much work they can get out Of u'
As twilight falls around me and ] sit In my ea-y
chair ty tho open nr and dream Of the past. the
experiences OF those years come back to me. rcmcm
Der how determined was not to ych to the pre)u'
dice against kitchen work. but rather 20 take a my
motto that OF the Prince OF Wales "1ch dien"
was Often obliged TO keep up my courage by saving
To my heart "Nil desperndum y; and 50 with this
experience. East and West, l pity the woman who
starves on Nifty cents day In 6relcss garrett and
pity the woman I'm tho slavery 81 domestic service
This Is case the chCches cannot rrach unlr'7
woman through the pulpit, he made 60 feel tia:
she L. her si-tcr'- Keeper. H. II.
Detroit Mich, Dec. %. 1850.